When the Union Jack Flew Over Washington, DC

United States War on Britain

A 1793 elevation by James Hoban, the selected architect from the competition

What one see’s today as the White House was not the original White House, but the second; for the original was burned during the War of 1812, when the British troops set a about to burn the whole of Washington, DC.


While many notable building’s where set ablaze, including the first White House which was largely destroyed and inhabited at that time by former US President James Madison.

The actual burning of Washington took place in 24 August 1814, while the British met to occupy the city not burn it; but when they came under attack by partisans (resistance fighters) from a house at the corner of Maryland Avenue, Constitution Avenue, and Second Street NE, from here came about the burning of the city and the destruction of one newspaper for writing slanderous remarks towards a British Admiral.

This is also the first time the Union Jack flew or was raised above this city.

Reconstruction of the second White house would not begin until 1915 and while there were charred remains of the first White House; nevertheless, these charred remains where torn down to make way for the new building. The original building of the second White was not considered finished until 1864.

As to former President’s of the White house, in their history of the second White House in particular have been known to keep livestock within the building itself; such as chickens and cow’s, to an occasional pig. Also, in some of the room’s that even today is visited by dignities, former first ladies have hung their laundry to dry and at time’s, some of the floor’s where considered ankle deep in mud or covered in dirt; which some American historians have concluded, was either due to poor sanitary conditions or the inhabitants of the livestock.
This picture shows Calvin Coolidge, Mrs. Coolidge, and Senator Curtis in an open top car, on their way to the capitol. Mrs. Coolidge had a pet raccoon at the white house.

As to the alleged White House pets, especially dog’s or cat’s; not all the Presidents had such as these, but a variety of pet’s; including many horses, an alligator, Parrot, tiger’s, donkey, bobcat, hyena, bears, to many other varieties of wildlife and in particular former President Woodrow Wilson use to graze sheep on the White House lawn.